Best Outdoor Gear: Stuff You Need For Epic Adventures

I’ve been camping and backpacking for several years now. People often ask me about my favorite outdoor gear and if I can help them choose theirs. So if you are looking for the best outdoor gear, this post is packed with the best equipment I use to help you prepare for your next adventure.

Outdoor Gear: My Backpacking System

Best backpacking shelter

For backpacking, I use this Big Agnes ultralight Tiger Wall UL2 tent. The tent is super light, and I will never tire of sleeping with the rainfly off in a remote area. There is nothing more relaxing than stargazing to fall asleep. I also use its footprint. I’ve never had a problem with either product and I highly recommend them. I also use the mtnGLO Lights when I’m backpacking, which come in white, blue/green, or red.

Important: If you are buying this setup, pay attention to whether the tent was made before or after 2021, as it will impact which footprint you should buy! The links I provide below are for the 2021 model and the 2021 compatible footprint.

Sleeping when backpacking

Best sleeping pad(s)

Another part of my backpacking setup is this Nemo sleeping pad. It is 3in deep, so I never feel the ground even if I lay on my side. It also comes with an inflating bag, which means inflation is easy and hygienic. The Nemo sleeping pad is SO COMFORTABLE, I cannot recommend it enough. You won’t be disappointed if you choose to buy it. Read my review of the Nemo sleeping pad here.

I always lay it above this foam pad for protection and extra insulation. The foam pad also doubles up as an insulated seat cushion when you take a break, or if you’re at a developed campground the benches are cold.

Best sleeping bag

Outdoor Gear: My Car Camping System

Best Car Camping Shelter

For a more spacious home away from home, I bought this Mountain Hardwear Mineral King tent for when I can have my car nearby. This two-people tent is sturdy and less fragile than my backpacking tent. It also allows me to sleep with the rainfly off, and ventilation is excellent too because the whole inner canopy is made of mesh.

But this tent is pretty large, so the string lights are not strong enough to light it up, and I ended up buying this tent lantern. I also decided to use the original stakes alongside these MSR tent stakes because they glow in the dark, so it’s easier to avoid stepping on them and stabbing my foot.

Sleeping for car camping

I use the Quecha air mattress instead of the Nemo pad if I’m not backpacking! It’s 7in deep, has a velvet feel, and sleeping on it feels just like a real bed. It’s now out of stock though, and a new model is in design. Also pictured (in orange) is my summer sleeping bag, which doubles up as a sleeping bag liner. As in the picture below, I use it on its own for summer nights in the desert, and inside my FF sleeping bag in winter for added warmth. And in winter, I also use this insulated tent comforter on top of me to be toasty and cozy.

Lastly, last year, I won this Quechua camping tent from Decathlon on Instagram!!! The Quechua tent is perfect for car camping in windy conditions because there is less mesh fabric to it compared to the Mineral King tent, so I don’t wake up covered in sand or dust as much as with my other tents!

Outdoor Gear: My Favorite Backpacks

I have used this Osprey 58L backpack for backpacking adventures. It is very comfortable with padded straps and sits on my hips perfectly, so I don’t feel the weight at all, I love it! This Osprey 11L daypack is what I’ve been using for day hikes for several years. Osprey’s quality is remarkable, and both packs are super comfortable. I recently purchased this Big Agnes backpack, which I love for day hikes and summer backpacking trips in the desert. It’s the perfect mid-size pack for me.

Outdoor Gear: My Outdoor Kitchen

Meal prep

Whether I backpack miles away or camp near my car, I use this MSR stove kit. The only difference is the fuel canister I take with me. The 4oz fuel canister fits perfectly inside the pot, so it’s perfect for backpacking. But I’ll use a larger canister if I don’t need to carry it far! Although I read several negative reviews about it, the MSR igniter works fine for me if I stay below 10,000ft, but I bring a lighter just in case for higher elevation adventures.

This spork is a spoon and a fork, as the name suggests, and it’s the only utensil I bring (besides this pocket knife). I eat out of the pot that came in my stove kit. I love using this collapsible mug for tea when I backpack. But if weight is not a concern, I use a 16oz tumbler, which keeps my hot drinks hot longer and is the exact size I need to mix the electrolytes with!

I stay healthy by meal prepping and dehydrating my food with this dehydrator overnight when I’m home. And if I’m in bear country, I store my food and smelly goods in a bear canister, which also serves as a seat!

I clean up my dishes with this wilderness soap (a little goes a long way!) and this outdoor camp dishcloth, which scrubs well.

Hydration

For my water supply, I use the Sawyer Mini Water Filter if I have to source water, and I use two Smart water bottles with it (one to fill up the water directly from the source, and the other to fill with clean, filtered water).

However, if I have my car nearby, or I don’t need more than a gallon of water, I use my Osprey water bladders, which I own in 2.5 liters and 3 liters sizes. Both these bladders fit in the backpacks listed above. I also keep two 64oz flasks in my car at all times. These ombre flasks are so pretty and work just as well as the hydro flasks. As a bonus, these 64oz flasks can double up as weight to hold down the tent if it’s super windy and you don’t have rocks nearby!

I drink these electrolytes to stay hydrated. If you’re not sure what flavor to choose, citrus salt is my favorite when I’m out and about, and I love to drink the chocolate salt flavor when I’m home mixed with hot chocolate or chai tea.

Cleaning water bottles and water bladders

If you’re new at this, I wrote this step-by-step guide on how to clean a water bladder to help! But essentially, these cleaning tablets work great to clean your water bottles and reservoirs, and I also use the reservoir cleaning kit to wash and hang them to dry.

Safety First!

With the spirit of safety in mind, I keep a satellite phone whenever I am adventuring. I previously owned the Garmin Inreach Explorer+ but recently switched to the Garmin GPSMAP 67i. Both these options are perfect on trails and in the wilderness. It also helps me feel safer driving long distances through the desert and other areas with no cell service. And that peace of mind is simply priceless.

I also carry a medical kit and a “backcountry poopy kit” with this trowel, some hand sanitizer, a bandana (I love these cute ombre bandanas!), and even doggy bags in it for worst-case scenarios and emergencies!

Leukotape sports tape is another item I always take with me, and I wrap it around my trekking poles. It’s great at many things, including blister prevention and taping a popped blister (use cotton wool or tissue in between the tape and the broken skin), patching broken gear, etc… it’s essentially a sporty version of duct tape!

I also use GearTape to patch gear like my tent rainfly, sleeping pad, and puffy jacket. GearTape comes in multiple colors to match your gear’s color. I bought the clear tape because I find the color to be more versatile for a multitude of colorful gear.

My Favorite Outdoor Clothing, Footwear & Accessories

Outdoor Clothing

Winter

My favorite piece of kit for fall and winter is this Outdoor Research pullover, so much so that I own it in several colors! The color I own it in isn’t available anymore, but this Cotopaxi jacket keeps me super warm. I purchased these North Face pants to keep me warm in the snow. And they also serve me well when I camp in the desert in winter because it gets so cold as soon as the sun sets.

Summer

My favorite summer outfit includes these shorts from Free People’s activewear collection, Free Movement. They are shorts, but look like a flowy mini skirt, and have 2 large pockets to store your phone and snacks when adventuring! And you guessed it, I own them in multiple colors too!

Footwear

I used to wear these hiking boots, and here they are pictured below with the Kahtoola Microspikes (buy these microspikes at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI). That combination is perfect for hiking in winter conditions! I also recently purchased the Altra Lone Peak 7 trail running shoes. Read my review of the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 here!

I recently purchased these North Face Thermoball booties, and let me tell you these are fabulous camp shoes!! They keep my feet warm and are super comfortable after a hike!

Final thoughts

I hope beginners find this post useful with valuable insights into the essential outdoor gear needed to get started with their camping and backpacking adventures. Building a suitable setup can be overwhelming, but with the right knowledge and guidance, it becomes an exciting journey of exploration.

If you focus on quality and pick the right gear, that initial investment will pay off and the gear will serve you for years to come. However, head over to this blog post about backpacking gear if you are seeking similar gear for less.

And remember: Adventure awaits those who dare to seek it!

Happy trails!

Post originally published on March 21, 2023, and last updated on April 20, 2024.